U.S. patent number 8,886,031 [Application Number 13/222,999] was granted by the patent office on 2014-11-11 for camera window assembly for electronic device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Apple Inc.. The grantee listed for this patent is Richard Hung Minh Dinh, David A. Pakula, Benjamin J. Pope, Tang Yew Tan. Invention is credited to Richard Hung Minh Dinh, David A. Pakula, Benjamin J. Pope, Tang Yew Tan.
United States Patent |
8,886,031 |
Pope , et al. |
November 11, 2014 |
Camera window assembly for electronic device
Abstract
An electronic device may have a housing. A camera window
assembly may be mounted in a hole within the housing. The housing
may be formed from a structure such as a planar glass member. The
hole in which the camera window assembly is formed may be circular.
A mating circular trim member in the camera window assembly may be
mounted in the hole. A flange structure on the trim member may help
retain the trim member within the housing. A shelf portion of the
trim member may receive a ring of adhesive. The camera window
assembly may have a clear disk-shaped lens with planar opposing
front and rear surfaces that is mounted on the shelf portion using
the adhesive. An elastomeric ring may be compressed between
sidewall portions of the trim member and the lens to help retain
the lens within the camera window assembly.
Inventors: |
Pope; Benjamin J. (Sunnyvale,
CA), Dinh; Richard Hung Minh (San Jose, CA), Tan; Tang
Yew (Palo Alto, CA), Pakula; David A. (San Francisco,
CA) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Pope; Benjamin J.
Dinh; Richard Hung Minh
Tan; Tang Yew
Pakula; David A. |
Sunnyvale
San Jose
Palo Alto
San Francisco |
CA
CA
CA
CA |
US
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Apple Inc. (Cupertino,
CA)
|
Family
ID: |
47743882 |
Appl.
No.: |
13/222,999 |
Filed: |
August 31, 2011 |
Prior Publication Data
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|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20130051785 A1 |
Feb 28, 2013 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
396/535 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G03B
17/02 (20130101); G03B 2217/002 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G03B
17/02 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;396/535 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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WO 2010061604 |
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Jun 2010 |
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Laballe; Clayton E
Assistant Examiner: Hancock; Dennis
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Treyz Law Group Treyz; G. Victor
Woodruff; Kendall P.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An electronic device, comprising: a housing having an opening;
and a camera window assembly in the opening that includes a trim
member, an elastomeric member, and a transparent lens, wherein the
elastomeric member is in contact with an outermost edge of the lens
and is configured to retain the lens within the camera window
assembly, wherein the trim member has a portion that covers the
elastomeric member, wherein the portion forms an external surface
of the electronic device, wherein the elastomeric member has
opposing first and second surfaces, and wherein the trim member has
a first portion that hooks over the first surface of the
elastomeric member and a second portion that hooks over the second
surface of the elastomeric member.
2. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the transparent
lens comprises a disk-shaped lens having opposing planar surfaces
and wherein the elastomeric member comprises an elastomeric
ring.
3. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the trim member
has sidewalls, wherein the elastomeric ring is interposed between
the sidewalls of the trim member and the outermost edge of the
lens, and wherein the trim member and lens are configured to
compress the elastomeric ring.
4. The electronic device defined in claim 3 further comprising a
camera module that is configured to receive light through the
lens.
5. The electronic device defined in claim 4 wherein the housing
comprises a planar glass member and wherein the opening is formed
in the planar glass member.
6. The electronic device defined in claim 5 wherein the camera
window assembly further comprises a ring of adhesive interposed
between a peripheral surface of the lens and a shelf portion of the
trim member.
7. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the camera
window assembly comprises a metal member and wherein the
elastomeric member is compressed between the metal member and the
lens.
8. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the housing
comprises a planar glass member in which the opening is formed.
9. A camera window assembly, comprising: a member having an
opening; an elastomeric ring in the opening; and a lens that is
retained within the member at least partly by the elastomeric ring,
wherein the lens has peripheral sidewalls, wherein the elastomeric
ring is in contact with the peripheral sidewalls, wherein the
elastomeric ring has opposing first and second surfaces, wherein
the trim member has a first portion that hooks over the first
surface of the elastomeric ring and a second portion that hooks
over the second surface of the elastomeric ring.
10. The camera window assembly defined in claim 9 wherein the lens
has planar opposing front and rear surfaces, wherein the member
comprises a sidewall portion with an inner surface, and wherein the
elastomeric ring is compressed between the sidewall portion and the
lens.
11. The camera window assembly defined in claim 10 wherein the
member comprises a metal trim member with a flange and wherein the
opening comprises a circular opening defined by the inner surface
of the sidewall portion.
12. The camera window assembly defined in claim 9 further
comprising adhesive interposed between the lens and the member.
13. The camera window assembly defined in claim 12 wherein the
adhesive comprises a ring of adhesive.
14. Apparatus, comprising: a planar structure having a hole; and a
camera window assembly in the hole, wherein the camera window
assembly has a member with an opening, a lens in the opening, and
an elastomeric lens retention member that is compressed between and
in contact with the member and an outermost edge of the lens,
wherein the elastomeric lens retention member has a rectangular
cross section, wherein the member has a vertical sidewall surface
interposed between upper and lower planar surfaces, wherein the
vertical sidewall surface is parallel to the outermost edge of the
lens, and wherein the elastomeric lens retention member is in
contact with the vertical sidewall surface, the upper planar
surface, and the lower planar surface of the member.
15. The apparatus defined in claim 14 wherein the planar structure
comprises a glass plate.
16. The apparatus defined in claim 15 wherein the glass plate forms
a rear housing structure in an electronic device, wherein the
member comprises a metal trim member having sidewalls, and wherein
the elastomeric lens retention member comprises an elastomeric ring
compressed between the sidewalls and the lens.
17. The apparatus defined in claim 14 wherein the metal trim member
comprises a shelf portion, the apparatus further comprising
adhesive that attaches the lens to the shelf portion.
Description
BACKGROUND
This relates generally to camera windows and, more particularly, to
camera windows for electronic devices.
Electronic devices such as cellular telephones often contain
cameras. For example, a cellular telephone may contain a camera. To
permit the camera to operate properly, the surface of the cellular
telephone may be provided with a camera window. The camera window
may include a clear lens through which the camera may receive image
light.
With conventional cellular telephone camera window designs,
adhesive is sometimes used to hold the lens in place. There is
potential with this type of arrangement for the lens to become
dislodged if the cellular telephone is dropped or otherwise
subjected to an impact event.
It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide improved
camera window structures for electronic devices.
SUMMARY
An electronic device may have a housing in which a camera is
mounted. A camera window assembly may be mounted in a hole within
the housing to permit image light to pass to the camera from the
exterior of the housing.
The housing may be formed from a structure such as a planar glass
member. The planar glass member may be used to form a front or rear
surface for the electronic device. The hole in which the camera
window assembly is formed may be circular. A mating circular trim
member in the camera window assembly may be mounted in the
hole.
A flange structure on the trim member may help retain the trim
member within the housing. A shelf portion of the trim member may
receive a ring of adhesive. The camera window assembly may have a
clear disk-shaped lens that is mounted on the shelf portion using
the adhesive.
To enhance the ability of the camera window assembly to retain the
lens, the camera window assembly may be provided with an
elastomeric member. The elastomeric member may have a ring shape
that surrounds a circular peripheral edge of the lens. The
elastomeric ring may be compressed between sidewall portions of the
trim member and the lens.
Further features of the invention, its nature and various
advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and
the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative electronic device
of the type that may be provided with a camera window in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional camera
window assembly.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the conventional camera
window assembly of FIG. 2 mounted in a rear housing plate in a
cellular telephone.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an illustrative camera
window assembly of the type that may be used in forming a camera
window for an electronic device such as the electronic device of
FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the illustrative camera
window assembly of FIG. 4 mounted in a housing structure such as a
planar rear housing member in an electronic device in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Electronic devices such as device 10 of FIG. 1 may be provided with
cameras. Device 10 of FIG. 1 may be a portable computer, a tablet
computer, a computer monitor, a handheld device, game equipment, a
global positioning system equipment, a cellular telephone, other
portable electronic devices, or other electronic equipment.
Device 10 may include a housing such as housing 12. Housing 12,
which may sometimes be referred to as a case, may be formed of
plastic, glass, ceramics, fiber composites, metal (e.g., stainless
steel, aluminum, etc.), other suitable materials, or a combination
of these materials. Housing 12 may be formed using a unibody
configuration in which some or all of housing 12 is machined or
molded as a single structure or may be formed using multiple
structures (e.g., an internal frame structure, one or more
structures that form exterior housing surfaces, etc.).
In some configurations, housing 12 may be formed using front and
rear housing structures that are substantially planar. For example,
the front and/or rear of device 10 may be formed from a planar
structure (e.g., a planar housing structure) such as a planar glass
member, a planar plastic member, a planar metal structure, or other
substantially planar structure. A front surface of device 10 may,
as an example, be covered with a display cover glass layer, a
plastic display cover layer, or other planar transparent member
that is associated with a touch screen display. As shown in FIG. 1,
rear housing surface 14 may, if desired, be a planar member (e.g.,
a planar glass member) and may be surrounded by peripheral housing
structures 22.
Peripheral housing structures 22 may be formed from plastic, glass,
ceramic, fiber composites, metal, other materials, or combinations
of these materials. Peripheral housing structures 22 may be
configured to form a bezel structure that surrounds a display on
the front of device 10, may be used to form vertical sidewall
structures of the type shown in FIG. 1, or may be used in forming
other housing structures (e.g., housing wall structures). The
housing configuration of FIG. 1 is merely illustrative. Housings of
other shapes (e.g., non-rectangular housings, multi-piece housings
having hinges, housings having curved edges or combinations of
curved and straight edges, etc.) may be used if desired.
As shown in FIG. 1, device 10 may include a camera window formed
from a camera window assembly such as camera window assembly 16.
Camera window assembly 16 may have a clear window structure such as
lens 18. A trim structure such as trim member 20 or other
supporting member may be used in mounting lens 18 in an opening in
rear housing member 14 or other housing structures 12 in device
10.
Lens 18 may be formed from a clear material such as clear glass,
clear plastic, or other transparent material that allows light to
reach a camera module mounted within the interior of device housing
12. Lens 18 of FIG. 1 has been implemented using a transparent
disk-shaped member. This is merely illustrative. Lens 18 may have a
circular outline, an oval outline, a rectangular outline, an
outline with a combination of curved and straight edges, or other
suitable configurations. Lens 18 may have planar opposing front and
rear surfaces, convex surfaces, concave surfaces, etc.
Trim member 20 may be formed from plastic, stainless steel, other
metal, or other materials. With one suitable arrangement, trim
member 20 may have opaque sidewalls. The sidewalls of trim member
20 may help prevent stray light from entering the edges of lens 18.
For example, in configurations for device 10 that contain a nearby
flash unit, the opaque sidewalls of trim member 20 may be used to
prevent stray light from the flash unit from entering lens 18 and
potentially interfering with operation of the camera in device
10.
An exploded perspective view of a conventional cellular telephone
camera window assembly is shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2,
camera assembly 42 includes camera window lens 26, adhesive ring
28, and stainless steel trim member 42. Trim member 42 has flange
portion 44 for retaining trim member 42 in the interior of a rear
glass housing plate in a cellular telephone. Trim sidewall
structures 46 may have a diameter that is configured to fit within
an opening in the rear glass housing plate. Trim member 42 has
circular opening 40. Adhesive ring 28 has mating opening 30. When
lens 26 is mounted in trim 42, adhesive 28 attaches the peripheral
portion of lens 26 to interior ledge 48 of trim member 42. Light
for a camera may pass through lens 26, opening 30, and opening
40.
A cross-sectional side view of conventional camera window assembly
24 of FIG. 2 mounted in opening 52 in glass housing plate 50 on the
rear of a cellular telephone is shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG.
3, lens 26 has a diameter that allows lens 26 to be received within
the cylindrical cavity formed by trim sidewalls 46. Adhesive ring
28 attaches lens 26 to portions 48 of trim member 44. Trim member
flange 44 helps retain trim member 44 within housing member 50.
Retention force for holding lens 26 in place is provided by
adhesive 28. In the event of an unexpected drop event or other
impact, this retention force may be insufficient and lens 26 may
become dislodged.
An exploded perspective view of a camera window assembly of the
type that may be used in an electronic device such as device 10 of
FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 4, camera window
assembly 16 may include camera window lens 18, elastomeric ring 64,
adhesive ring 60, and trim member 20.
Lens 18 may be formed from clear glass, clear plastic, or other
transparent materials. In one illustrative configuration, lens 18
may be formed from a disk of transparent material (e.g., a
disk-shaped glass or plastic member) having parallel front and rear
faces and a circular outline. Lens 18 may also have other shapes
(e.g., shapes with convex or concave surfaces, shapes with edges
that are straight, rectangular shapes, oval shapes, shapes with
combinations of straight and curved edges, etc.).
Trim member 20 may be formed from plastic, metal, ceramic,
fiber-composite materials, other materials, or combinations of
these materials. Trim member 20 may be formed from a single piece
of material or multipart trim structures may be used. In one
illustrative configuration, trim member 20 may be formed from a
stainless steel member. Sidewall structures 56 may be opaque and
may help block stray light. For example, sidewall structures 56 may
surround lens 18 and may block stray light that is produced by a
flash unit in device 10 from the camera.
Trim member 20 may have a laterally extending portion such as
flange portion 52 to help retain trim member 20 within the interior
of electronic device 10. Trim sidewall structures 56 may have an
outer diameter that is configured to fit within an circular hole or
other opening in a housing structure in device 10. For example,
trim sidewall structures 56 may have a circular periphery with an
outer diameter that fits within a mating circular opening of the
same diameter in a rear housing structure such as planar rear
housing structure 14 of FIG. 1. Planar rear housing structure 14
may be, for example, a glass plate, a glass plate covering a metal
sheet, a planar plastic member, or other structure. Trim member 20
may have a circular opening such as opening 58 that surrounds the
circular periphery of lens 18. During operation of device 10, image
light for a camera may pass through opening 58 without being
affected by stray light that may have leaked into the interior of a
glass housing structure (e.g., housing structure 14) from a flash
unit in device 10.
Adhesive ring 60 may have an opening such as opening 62. Opening 62
may, for example, have an inner diameter that matches the inner
diameter of opening 58 in trim member 20. When the components of
the camera window assembly are assembled, adhesive ring 60 may rest
between shelf portion 54 (sometimes referred to as a shelf or
ledge) of trim member 20 and the lower peripheral surface of lens
18 and may help hold lens 18 within trim 20 and device 10.
Camera window assembly 16 may use an elastomeric structure such as
elastomeric member 64 to help hold lens 18 in place. Elastomeric
member 64 may have a circular ring shape, a rectangular ring shape,
other ring shapes, or other configurations. In the example shown in
FIG. 4, elastomeric member 64 has been configured to form a
circular elastomeric ring. As shown in FIG. 4, elastomeric ring 64
may have an opening such as opening 66. The diameter of opening 66
may match the diameters of opening 62 and 58 (as an example).
Elastomeric ring 64 may be formed from a flexible polymer. For
example, elastomeric ring 64 may be formed from a thermoplastic
polyester elastomer (TPE) or other material that may be compressed.
When assembled, lens 18 may be received within opening 66 of
elastomeric ring 64 so that elastomeric ring 64 is radially
compressed between the outer edge of lens 18 and the inner surface
of trim sidewalls 56. The compression of elastomeric ring 64 may
create friction on the edges of lens 18 to help retain lens 18
within trim 20 and window assembly 16 during a drop event or other
unexpected impact.
When lens 18 is mounted in trim member 20, light for a camera in
device 10 may pass through the camera window assembly (i.e., light
for the camera may pass through lens 18, opening 66, opening 62,
and opening 58).
A cross-sectional side view of camera window assembly 16 of FIG. 4
mounted in opening 74 in a housing structure for device 10 is shown
in FIG. 5. In the example of FIG. 5, camera window assembly 16 has
been mounted in a hole in a housing structure such as glass housing
plate 68. In general, camera window assembly 16 may be mounted in
any suitable housing structure (e.g., a plastic housing wall, a
housing wall formed from a planar glass member, a housing wall
having metal and plastic parts, other structures formed from glass,
plastic, or other materials, etc.).
In the configuration shown in FIG. 5, image light 76 from an object
may pass to camera module 72 through lens 18 and the openings in
the structures of assembly 16 such as openings 66, 62, and 58.
Camera module 72 may convert the image light into digital image
data.
As shown in FIG. 5, lens 18 may have a diameter that allows lens 18
to be received within the cylindrical cavity formed by trim
sidewalls 56. Elastomeric member 64 may be compressed between the
outermost vertical surfaces at the peripheral edge of lens 18
(which press outwardly) and the opposing innermost vertical surface
of trim sidewall structures 56 (which press inwardly). This may
help retain lens 18 within trim member 20 and device 10. Additional
lens retention force may be provided by adhesive 60, which is
interposed between ledge (shelf) portion 54 of trim member 20 and
lens 18. Trim member flange 52 or other suitable retention
structures (e.g., lateral extension structures that protrude
laterally outward from trim member 20) may be used to help retain
trim member 20 within housing 12.
The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this
invention and various modifications can be made by those skilled in
the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the
invention.
* * * * *